Galleries

The LSA galleries are a great way to get acquainted with our network's historic film collections. Each is a curated journey through London's archive film, with commentary, memories and historical context to offer a glimpse into the capital's rich and varied past.
Regularly updated, we are always looking for new themes and places to explore.

Introduction

Do you have a pet? It is no secret that British people love their pets to bits and according to the RSPCA, in 2017, about one in two households in the UK own a pet; that is over 8.5 million dogs and 8 million cats!
Our love of animals is reflected in our moving images, from newsreels from the 1920s through to home movies from the 1940s to 60s and pet videos on social media today. This gallery brings together a small selection of our popular pets and animals films; including a collection of Topical Budget newsreels, a home movie of a trip to the zoo and a close encounter with a very cute bunny!

A Nation of Animal Lovers

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A selection of Joan Littlewood's films documenting Londoners' leisure time activities in the 1960s.

Joan Littlewood - The need for Fun Palaces

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A curated selection of family films and amateur adventures from our archives in celebration of Home Movie Day and UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.

It's Your Story!

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Easy as ABC

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Cheer on the cyclists and swimmers side-by-side with three-legged racers and pillow fighters in this Olympics-inspired selection of films.

The Road to Rio

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London loves football. From north to south, and west to east, our gallery of classic films show the passion of the crowds and the skill of the players. As England embark on an European adventure this Summer, enjoy some of the great games and moments London has witnessed over the years. From Sunday morning games to pursuit of Cup Glory, to the International Deaf Games, London can lay claim to being Planet Football or at least football shaped. Good luck to our England boys in pursuit of glory, and win or lose, one thing is certain, we will be cheering you on!

The Beautiful Game

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A collection of archive films from around London to mark the Queen’s 90th year.

The Queen at 90

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May 4th marks International Firefighters Day. Watch and celebrate the talents of the wonderful firefighters in our archive.

International Firefighters' Day

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National Gardening Week (11 - 17 April) was launched five years ago by the Royal Horticultural Society and since then has grown into the country’s biggest celebration of gardening.

National Gardening Week

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This collection celebrates the everyday lives of Londoners. Through personal stories of childhood, leisure time and marriage and documentary perspectives on domestic, city and suburban spaces an untold history of London emerges.

London Untold

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Humorous, thrilling and sometimes bewildering, road safety films provide an insight into the various ways society has sought to address traffic and road safety issues from the earliest days of cinema to today.

To highlight Road Safety Week 2015, Storm Patterson (Digital Film Archive Intern at London’s Screen Archives) has curated a selection of eight road safety gems from the last 70 years.

Road Safety Week commences on 23rd November and is an annual event organised by the national road safety charity Brake.

Road Safety Week

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From kooky council-made animation to the birth of Hounslow, the films in this gallery were guest curated by Dr. Cathy Ross to mark the 50th anniversary of the London boroughs.

Cathy Ross is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Museum of London, UK, where she was Director of Collections and Learning until 2013. Previous to that, she worked in museums in Tyne & Wear and South Yorkshire. She was Chair of London Screen Archives between 2005-2016.

50 Years of the London Boroughs

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Why don’t you join us to celebrate love and weddings through the years, from the 1930s to the 70s and raise a toast to the happy couples in these films.

Love and Marriage

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This Gallery has been curated for London's Screen Archives by Emma-Louise Williams and includes her personal responses to the films.

Emma-Louise Williams is a freelance radio producer whose work is commissioned by BBC Radio 3 & 4. In 2011 she made the feature-length film Under the Cranes, which was written by poet Michael Rosen that combines new cinematography with local archive footage to explore the themes of migration and regeneration in Hackney over many generations.

Paradise Place

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From paper-hatted knees-ups to grand Christmas illuminations, this collection shows some of the many ways London has celebrated Christmas.

Merry London Christmas!

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Highdays and holidays on the Brandon Estate, Southwark, 1960 - 73

Lights, Camera, Brandon! Films of the Brandon Estate Cineclub

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A selection of films from Sutton, featuring a carnival procession on Empire Day (1930), views of Sutton town centre circa 1927, Carshalton in glorious 50s colour and a festive newsreel on Down's Hospital (1926).